ACC ~ John 4 v22

CHRIST BORN OF THE JEWS

AUGUSTINE: Divergent walls have come to the cornerstone, the Jews from there, the Gentiles from here. You have seen and you know that the further walls are from the corner, the further they are from each other. As they approach the corner, so they approach each other. When they reach the corner, they join each other. Christ [as cornerstone] has joined Jews and Gentiles, who were far away from each other….

Those who came from the Jews are to be counted as being part of a good wall because those who came did not remain in the ruin. [1] We have become one, they and we; but in the One, not in ourselves. Of what lineage was Christ born? Of the Jews. That is what you find written: “Salvation is from the Jews,” but not only for the Jews. He did not say, after all, “Salvation is for the Jews” but “Salvation is from the Jews.” SERMON 375.1. [2]

[1] Augustine may be alluding allegorically to the fallen walls of Jerusalem, destroyed in the captivity, which symbolize Judaism apart from Christ.

[2] WSA 3 10:329*.

SALVATION FROM THE JEWISH SCRIPTURES

ORIGEN: The “you” refers literally to the Samaritans but anagogically to all who are heterodox regarding the Scriptures. The “we” literally means the Jews, but allegorically it means, “I, the Word, and all who are changed by me receive salvation from the Jewish Scriptures.” For the mystery now revealed was revealed both through the prophetic Scriptures and through the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 13.101. [1]

[1] FC 89:89**; SC 222:84.

THE SANCTUARIES WILL END

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: It is proper for Jesus to say now, “Believe me,” after he had clearly demonstrated the truth of the words that he had spoken to her before. “The hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.” This, he says, is what you want to be instructed about. Know then that there will be a time when both places will end. However in order that it might not appear that Jews and Samaritans had to be considered equal (because he predicted the end of both their sanctuaries) he says, “You worship what you do not know,” that is, you Samaritans; “We worship what we know,” that is, we Jews. Then he adds, “For salvation is from the Jews.” He did not say “in the Jews” but “from the Jews.” In fact, salvation was not in them but from them because Christ in flesh came from them. Therefore, he says, the truth is by the Jews, but both sanctuaries will be emptied out. COMMENTARY ON JOHN 2.4.21-22. [1]

[1] CSCO 4 3:90-91.